Elastic fabric and method for producing the same



Sept. 18, 1945. s. c. LILLEY ET AL ELASTIC FABRIC AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME Filed June 11, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l .Sept. 18, 194-5. sic, Y ETAL 2,384,936

ELASTIC FABRIC AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME Filed June 11, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F F l- K I 111 F H F I'I L M 11/ r I III 5 F R H t i'i m F: EF 11% 1b 5 l I8 five/0%? Patented Sept. 18, 1945 ELASTIC FABRIC AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME Samuel C. Lllley, Hamden, and Edward E. Foster, Southport, Conn., assignors to United Elastic tion of Massachusetts Application June 11, 1842, Serial No. 448,580

'15 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in elastic fabrics, and more particularly to improvements in woven elastic fabrics in which the elastic strands thereof are anchored in the fabric to minimize creepage. The present invention, furthermore, is similar to and is a continuation in part of our co-pending application Serial No. 376,438, filed January 29, 1941.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a superior woven elastic fabric in which the elastic strands thereof are anchored to other components of the fabric in such manner as to minimize, if not preclude, the creepage or run-back of the said elastic strands, in the event that the same should become severed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a superior woven elastic fabric which will be readily stretchable in the direction of the elastic strands but which will be stiffened in a direction transversely with respect to the said elastic strands.

Corporation, Easthampton, Mass., at oorporatain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. l is a face view of a fragment of elastic fabric embodying the present invention and showing part thereof treated and a part thereof untreated by the heating step of the present method;

Fig. 2 is a broken schematic face view of one form of fabric embodying the present invention and showing schematically a portion prior to treatment and a portion subsequent to treatment;

Fig. 3 is a broken transverse sectional view taken on the line 8-3 of Fig.2;

Fi 4 is a similar view taken on the line 44 of Fill. 2;

Fig. 5 is a face view of .a scalloped-edge elastic I fabric embodying the present invention;

A further object of the present invention is to flexing along lines paralleling the said elastic strands.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a superior woven elastic fabric having un-. dulatlng or scalloped edges, and having the elastic strands thereof anchored in the contracted ortions of the fabric.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a superior method whereby an elastic fabric may be readily woven without special handicap and whereby following the weaving operation, the fabric may be subjected to a step which will anchor the component elastic'strands therein.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a superior method whereby subsequent to its being woven an elastic fabric may have unidirectional stiffness imparted to its without requiring the addition of sizing or similar materials to the fabric after its fabrication.

with the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art and which are not claimed in any separate application.

Fig. 6 is a broken schematic face view schematically illustrating strand relationships in the fabric of FiB. 5; and I Fig. isa broken central-sectional view taken in a plane paralleling the respectivefaces of the elastic fabric of Figs. 5 and 8.

The elastic fabric 0/ Fills. 1 to 4 inclusive The elastic fabric shown comprises a series of laterally-spaced-apart elastic strands it which may be of round, rectangular, or other cross-sectional form, and may be composed of rubber or other suitable elastic material.- The said elastic strands It may be individually covered by wrapping or the like as is a well known practice in the art, or the said strands may be bare as shown.

The particular elastic strands i ll above referred to. form warp strands of the fabric shown, in con- Junction with relatively-non-elastic strands ll woven or otherwise incorporated into the fabric in groups intermediate the said elastic strands It.

The strands il may be formed of any suitable textile material, such for instance as cotton, regenerated cellulose, silk, wool. etc., and when in place in the relaxed fabric, they follow a sufficiently undulatory or serpentine path to thereby permit the fabric to be stretched against the tension of the elastic strands It, in a manner well understood in the art.

Extending crosswise with respect to the elastic strands I0 and hence also with respect to the relatively-non-elastic strands II is a series of crossstrands I! which intermesh with the said strands i0 and Ii. In the particular instance shown, the so-called strands' i 2 are, in fact, one continuous strand and constitute weft picks in the woven fabric, though in effect each of the said In the accompanying drawings, in which cerweft picks constitutes an independent strand capable of following a different path from the next adiacentistrand l2.

All of the cross-strands II are formed either in whole or in part of heat-shrinkable artificial resin or resins, though it is not necessary that each cross-strand 12, or its equivalent, be of this character, since it will suflice if the said heatshrinkable strands are repeated at certain intervals. The heat-shrinkable strands I 2 or their equivalent, whether or not located immediately adjacent each other, may be formed entirely of heat-shrinkable artificial resins or partly thereof, so long as the complete heat-shrinkable strand is inherently capable of being shrunk by heat relative to such other strands as may be employed in the form of cotton, wool, etc.

The said heat-shrinkable strands may be twisted or untwisted and formed, for instance, wholly or in part of a co-polymer of vinylacetate and vinylchloride, polyamides, vinylidenechloride, or the like.

Preferably, the heat-shrinkable artificial resin strands, threads or ribbons are formed by'the well-known stretch-spinning process or by a process involving stretching subsequent to spinnine.

After the fabric has been woven, knitted, netted or otherwise has its strands interlaced or intermeshed, the fabric may be subjected to a heating operation either while wet or dry to a temperature above the softening point of the artificial resin strands to thereby cause the said strands to contract. The temperatures and the periods of exposure to such temperatures may vary widely and in most instances, variations in temperatures and/or times of exposure to such temperatures will cause variations in the degree of shrinkage of the heat-shrinkable artirflcial resin strands. Generally speaking, an exposure to a temperature in the vicinity of 175 F. for about 1 to 5 minutes will effect the desired shrinkage which is preferred to be in the order of 30% to 40% contraction. It is to be understood that relatively thin fabrics require less time of exposure to heat than the thicker multi-ply fabrics.

As will be noted by reference to the right-hand portion of Fig. 2 in particular, the heating of the fabric as above described will cause the cross-' flexible in a'direction required to permit the fabric to be rolled up from end to end. In other words, after the cross-strands i2 have been shrunk as described, the fabric will greatly resist being 'bent, folded or curled along lines paralleling the strands I and H, but will be readily flexible along lines paralleling the cross-strands i2.

The fabric of Figs. 5, 6 and 7, inclusive The fabric schematically illustrated in Figs. to '7 inclusive, comprises a plurality of laterallyspaced-apart elastic strands between each pair of which are preferably located a plurality of relatively-non-elastic strands II. The elastic strands H just referred to may be formed of any suitable elastic material such, for instance, as has been mentioned in connection with the elastic strands l0, and the relatively-non-elastic strands I! may be composed of any suitable textile material such, for instance, as the textile materials mentioned in connection with the non-elastic strands I i. In the particular woven fabric shown schematically, the elastic strands H and the nonelastic strands I! constitute warp strands, and each thereof has interlaced with it alternate groups A of heat-shrinkable strands l6 interposed between groups B of relatively-non-heat-shrinkable strands II.

In the fabric schematically shown. each of the heat-shrinkable strands i8 is, in fact, a continuation of the next adjacent strand of similar material and constitutes a weft-pick of the fabric. Despite this integrality, each of the strands or weft-picks it may be viewed as an individual strand, inasmuch as each thereof may independently follow its own prescribed path in the fabric.

In a manner well known in the art, one of the groups A of heat-shrinkable strands may be connected to the next adjacent group A of similar strands by a connecting-reach such as is. The strands It may be formed of the same character of material as mentioned in connection with the strands 82.

The strands Il may be formed of any suitable textile material such as has been mentioned in connection with the strands II, I? and i5, and each group B of the said strands I1 may be interconnected to the next adjacent group B by a connecting-reach it.

As thus constructed and arranged, the fabric includes areas A of heat-shrinkable cross-strands alternating with areas B of relatively-non-heatshrinkable material.

When the fabric of Figs. 5 to '7 inclusive is subjected to heat in any suitable manner such for instance as described in connection with the fabric of Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the heat-shrinkable strands IS in the areas A will contract, as

is illustrated in the left-hand portion of Fig. 6.

The contraction of the heat-shrinkable strands it as above described will result not only in pinching and anchoring the elastic strands it, but will cause the respective opposite edges of the fabric to assume an undulating or scalloped form.

Furthermore, and as has been described in connection with the fabric of the preceding figures, the shrinkage of the strands IE or their equivalent will result in stiffening the fabric in the areas A without, however, preventing the fabric from being stretched in the direction of the elastic strands I4. The stiffening action of the strands l6 as just referred to will resist the bending or folding of the fabric along lines paralleling the strands i4 and I5, and in this manner the fabric becomes admirably suited for garters, waistbands and the like. where the transverse rolling-overv of ordinary elastic fabrics is an undesirable feature.

General considerations It is to be understood that. the weaves shown in the accompanying drawings are merely schematic and that various of the almost innumerable weaves available may be employed in carrying out the present invention, so long as individual heat-shrinkable strands extend crosswise of a plurality of the elastic strands in order to grip the latter when the said heat-shrinkable strands are assesses heated and contracted. The heat-shrinkable strands referred to are therefore not limited to being employed as weft strands in a woven fabric but may, as will be fully apparent to those skilled in the art, be employed as warp strands in such woven fabrics as have weftor filling-picks of elastic material.

The contraction of the heat-shrinkable crossstrands above referred to, will not only serve to anchor the elastic strands against undue axial. slippage in the event of a break therein, but will serve to consolidate the fabric in the direction of their pull so that the areas of the fabric in which the said heat-shrinkable strands are incorporated, will possess the appearance of being very tightly woven. This latter result may be achieved without resorting to actual slow and difficult tight weaving, so that, if desired, the fabric may be woven in a relatively-loose condition thus facilitating the weaving operation. Despite such loose weaving, the subsequent heating of the fabric will cause the heat-shrinkable crossstrands to so consolidate and compact the fabric as to hide substantially all cases of any initiallyloose weaving.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

We claim:

1. A method for producing woven elastic fabrics which method includes interweaving a plurality of laterally-spaced-apart elastic strands and a plurality of heat-shrinkable strands of artificial resin in such manner that individual strands of the said plurality of heat-shrinkable strands extend crosswise with respect to a plurality of the said elastic strands in position to compress and grip the latter strands when the heat-shrinkable strands are shrunk; and then subjecting the heat-shrinkable strands to the action of heat to cause the same to contract to grip the said elastic strands in the fabric.

2. A method for producing woven elastic fabrics which method includes interweaving a plurality of laterally-spaced-apart elastic strands, a plurality of relatively-non-elastic strands extending substantially parallel with respect to the said elastic strands, and a plurality of heat-shrinkable strands of artificial resin in such manner that individual strands of the said plurality of heat-shrinkable strands extend crosswise with respect to a plurality of the said elastic strands and a plurality of the said relatively-non-elastic strands; and then subjecting the heat-shrinkable strands to the action of heat to cause the same to contract to grip both the said elastic strands and the said relatively-non-elastlc strands ex-- tending parallel with the said elastic strands.

3. A method for producing woven elastic fabrics which method includes interweaving a plurality of elastic strands, a plurality of relatively-non-elastic strands and a plurality of heatshrinkable strands of artificial resin, the said strands being arranged so that individual strands of the said plurality of heat-shrinkable strands and individual strands of the'said plurality of relatively-non-elastic strands extend crosswise with respect to a plurality of the said elastic strands: and then subjecting the said heatshrinkable strands to the action of heat to cause the\ ame to contract to grip the said elastic strands in the fabric.

4. A method for producing woven elastic fabrics which method includes interweaving a plurality of elastic warp strands and s plurality of relatively-non-elastic warp strands with a] in the fabric.

5. A method for producing woven elastic fabrics which method includes interweaving a plurality of elastic warp strands with a plurality of relatively-non-elastic weft strands and a plurality of heat-shrinkable weft strands of artificial resin in such manner that individual strands of the said plurality of heat-shrinkable weft strands extend crosswise with respect to a lurality of the said elastic warp strands; and then subjecting the said heat-shrinkable weft strands to the action of heat to cause the same to contract and grip the said elastic warp strands in the fabric.

6. A method for producing woven elastic fabrics which method includes interweaving a plurality of elastic warp strands and a plurality of relatively-non-elastic warp strands with a plurality of relatively-non-elastic weft strands and a plurality of heat-shrinkable weft strands of artificial resin in such manner that individual strands of the said plurality of heat-shrinkable weft strands extend crosswise with respect to a plurality of the said elastic warp strands and relatively-non-elastic warp strands; and then subjecting the said heat-shrinkable. weft strands to the action of heat to cause the same to contract to grip the said elatsic warp strands and the said relatively-non-elastic warpstrands in the fabric.

7. A method for producing woven elastic fabrics which method includes interweaving a plurality of groups of heat-shrinkable strands at spaced intervals with a plurality of elastic strands in such manner that individual strands of the said groups of heat-shrinkable strands extends crosswise of a plurality of the said elastic strands, and also interweaving a plurality of groups of relatively-non-elastic strands with the said elastic strands in positions intermediate the groups of heat-shrinkable strands; and then subjecting the said heat-shrinkable strands to the action of heat to cause the same to contract to bind the said elastic strands in the fabric.

8. A method for producing woven scallopededge elastic fabrics which method includes interweaving a plurality of groups of relatively-nonelasticweft strands with a'plurality of elastic warp strands at spaced intervals along the said elastic warp strands, and also interweaving a plurality of groups of heat-shrinkable weft strands of artificial resin intermediate the other said groups of weft strands in such manner that individual strands of the said groups of heatshrinkable weft strands extend crosswise of a plurality of the said elastic warp strands; and then subjecting the said heat-shrinkable weft strands to the action of heat to cause the same to contract the fabric in the spaced areas containing elastic warp strands in the said contracted areas of the fabric. r

9. An anti-creep woven elastic fabric compris- I crosswise with respect to the said elastic strands ing: a plurality of elastic, strands; and a plurality of thermally-shrunk strands of artificial resin interwoven with and extending crosswise with respect to the said elastic-strands and contracted in situ to clamp the said elastic strands in the fabric, the individual strands of the said plurality of thermally-shrunk strands extending crosswise of a plurality of the said elastic strands.

10-. An anti-creep woven elastic fabric comprising: a plurality of elastic strands; a plurality of relatively-non-elastic strands; and a plurality of thermally-shrunk strands of artificial resin inofa plurality. of the said elastic strands.

ll. Ananti-creepwoven elasticifabric comprising:- a plurality of elastic strands; a plurality ofrelatively-noif-elastic strands extending in subsaid elastic strands.

elastic strands; and a plurality of thermallyshrunk strands of artificial resin also interwovenwithand extending crosswise with respect to the said elastic strands and contracted in situ I same and thermally contracted in situ to grip the to clamp the said elastic strands in the fabric, the individual strands of the said pluralityof thermally-shrunk strands extending crosswiseof a plurality of the said elastic strands.

13. An anti-creep woven elastic fabric comprising: a plurality of elastic strands; a plurality of relatively-non elastic strands extending in substantial parallelism with the said elastic strands; a plurality of relatively-non-elastic strandsinterwoven with and extending crosswise with frethe said heat-shrinkable strands to grip the said g spect to the said elasticstrands and therelatively-non-elastic strands extending parallel therewith; and a plurality of thermally-shrunk strands of artificial; resin interwoven with and extending 40 extending crosswise ofa plurality oi' the said elastic strandsz- 14. An anti-creep woven elastic fabric-having both relatively wide areas and relatively-narrow areas, and comprising: a plurality of elastic warp 16 strands; a plurality of groups of relatively-nonelastic weft strands respectively interwoven with and extendingcrosswise of the said elastic warp strands ingthe relatively-wideareas of the fabric;

and -a plurality of groups of thermally-shrunk 20 weft strands ofartiflcial resin respectively interwoven with and extending crosswise ofthe said elastic warp strands 'in the relatively-narrow areas between the said groups of relatively-nonelast'icrweftstrands, the said thermally-shrunk 525 weft strands being contracted in situ by heatto stantial-parallelism with the said elastic strands; and a" plurality of thermally-shrunk strands of artificial *resin. interwoven with and extending crosswise with respect to both the said elastic f strands and; the said: relatiyely-non-elastic; strands and contracted in situ to clamp the said elastic strands 'inthe fabric,- the individual strands of the said plurality of thermally-shrunk strands extending crosswise of a plurality of the 35 12. An anti-creep woven elastic fabric comprisingz a plurality of elastic"strands;-,a plurality of relatively-non-elastic strands interwoven with l and extending crosswise with respect to the said clamp the said elastic warp strands in the fabric, the individual strands of the said groups of thermally-shrunk weft strands extending crosswise of a plurality of the said elastic warp strands.

30 15; An-anti-creep woven elastic fabric having 0f the fabric; and a plurality of groups of thermally-shrunk weft strands of artificial resin respectively interwoven in the relatively-narrow areas of the fabric with and extending crosswise of the said elastic warp strands and the said relatively-non-elasticwarpstrands paralleling the said elastic strands in the fabric, the individual strands of the said groups of thermally-shrunk a weft strands extending crosswise of a plurality of the said elastic warp strands.

' SAMUEL c. LILLEY. EDWARD EJFOSTER. 

